|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 43 – The legend of Lord Krishna

Bhagavanapi Govindo Bhramanyo Bhakthavathsala: | Kacchith Pure Sudharmayam Sukhamasthe Suhrithdhritha: || Mangalayam Cha Lokanam Kshemaya Cha Bhavaya Cha| As the  Yadhukulambhodhavadhyo Anantha Sakha: Puman ||

Yudhishtira lifted Arjuna from the ground, patted on his head affectionately, and enquired about the welfare of Vasudeva, Devi Devaki, Ugrasena, Balarama, Pradhyumna and Samba.  Thus, Yudhistira enquired about all those beloved members of the family Krishna, but Arjuna remains unanswered. Finally, Yudhishtira enquired “Oh! Arjuna, how is our dearest companion, Bhagavan Govinda who is prominent among Yadhu, supreme Bhramam, beloved of devotees, provider of auspiciousness, and source of the welfare of the Universe and its living beings. Oh! Arjuna, why are you quiet? Did you commit any sin? Did you refuse to protect anyone? Did you refuse to protect Bhramin, children, Go, elderly people, women, or patients who took shelter in you? ” Yudhishtira looked at Arjuna whose eyes were overflown with tears running down through the cheeks, could not speak a word.

Vanchithoaham Maharaja Harina  Bandhuroopina | Yena Meyapahritham Thejo Devavismapanam Mahath ||

Arjuna wept bitterly and spoke “ Oh! Maharaja, we have lost that supreme Lord Hari who was our relative and constant companion, I have lost my brilliance; I have lost Lord Hari who was my constant companion and all my brilliance.”

Arjuna recollects all those crucial incidents in their lives and the compassion of Lord Krishna, “Oh! Brother, do you remember that moment we were heaved to death in the wax house by Duryodhana, was protected by uncle Vidura, we have assumed the form of twice-born and visited the Kingdom of Panchala, participated in the challenge and won Devi Draupadi in marriage, the entire Kshatriyas were raised voice against us, it was Krishna who supported us, it was the compassion of the Supreme Lord Krishna I got Devi Draupadi as a wedded wife.  Oh! Brother, do you remember another incident, Krishna crushed the pride of Lord Indra and pleased Lord Agni setting fire in the forest of Gandeeva, later a magnificent palace was constructed in Indraprastha at the order of Krishna by the celestial architect Mayan. He was all through the establishment of the Kingdom of Indraprastha and Rajasuya Yagna and crowned you as the King of the glorious Indraprastha.  It was the extreme compassion of Lord Krishna we have achieved all the glories in our lives.  Oh! Brother, King Jarasandha who imprisoned thousands of kings and prepared to kill them, me and Bheema disguised as twice-born and went with Krishna to fight against him. It was the mercy of Krishna, Jarasandha got killed in the hands of Bheema, released all those kings.   Later, we have invited all those Kings for Rajasuya, and it was the kindness of that Supreme Lord Krishna. Oh! Brother, Devi Draupadi was pledged in the board game, consequently, the wicked Kauravas humiliated her in the crowded assembly, it was the kindness of Krishna Devi Draupadi saved from further humiliation. Oh! Brother, it was during the exile form Hasthinapura, while living in the woods, wicked Duryodhana sends Maharishi Durvassa and his thousands of his disciples to visit us and get cursed. We were helpless without a grain in the hermitage, Devi Draupadi called out for Krishna was appeared before us and took grain from the Akshayapathra that was received as the blessing of Lord Surya.  Krishna swallowed that leftover grain and eventually Maharishi Durvassa and his disciple felt relieved from hunger, while taking bath in the river, and returned to their hermitage.  Oh! Bhagavan, intellectuals worship you as a preceptor and elevate their soul to the supreme Lord who resides as a soul in them, I am ignorant, I have assumed the supreme Lord Krishna as my charioteer, and you have sincerely performed all the duties with extreme compassion, inspired me while I was grief-struck in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, encouraged me to battle against preceptors, and great warriors like Bheeshma Pithamaha and Karna. Oh! Bhagavan, you have performed various amusements and cheered us, I can’t forget that boundless love towards me, I cannot forget your various pastimes and addressing me in various names.  Oh! Bhagavan, we have been inseparable while sleeping, consuming the meal, walking, and performing various tasks, whenever I make the dull remark, you inspire me and encourage me. You have forgiven all those mistakes of mine and accepted me as your dearest companion.  I cannot control the grief of separation from you.  Oh! Bhagavan, you have killed all those enemies in the battlefield of Kurukshetra with a single glance of yours, and kept me an instrument to fight against them, and offered all those honors of victory to us.  We cannot forget that compassion of you.” In this way, Arjuna repeatedly remembering the compassion of the Supreme Lord Krishna, all his impurities were washed off and finally attained the serenity of the mind.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 42 – The legend of Lord Krishna - The grief of Arjuna

Devi Uththara who is the wife of Abhimanyu was conceived with the child, prominent astrologers were received to the palace to predict the future of the infant.  The predictions were made to Yudhishtira that the child born would be highly intellectual, possessed with immense might, virtuous will have the sense of charity like King Ranthideva, and righteous like King Yayathi, but he will have death by serpent bite Thakshaka due to the curse of a Vipra, he will attain the supreme knowledge of ‘Athma’/soul from Shukha Bhramam, son of Maharishi Vedavyasa, ultimately he will attain the supreme abode of Lord.

Several years have passed Pareekshith got married to Devi Iravathi, and this couple had a son Janamejaya.  It was almost thirty-six years after the great battle of Kurukshetra, Arjuna decided to go to Dwaraka to meet his soul mate Krishna, thus he bade-farewell to Yudhishtira, Bheema, Nakula and Sahadeva and left Hastinapura.

Arjuna visited Dwaraka and got the news of Krishna’s departure from Daruka who was the charioteer of Krishna, he conveyed the final message of Krishna to take the elderly people, children, and Krishna’s parents from Dwaraka to Hastinapura, before the ocean swallows the entire Dwaraka.  Arjuna could not withstand the grief of departure of Krishna and the upcoming troubles of Dwaraka that submerges in water, he was already shattered and the responsibility to protect the people of Dwaraka seemed impossible for him, cannot ignore the command of his dearest companion and his last wish, so he gathered the remaining people in the Dwaraka and proceeded to Hastinapura. On the way, he was attacked by a few Mlecchas/Yavanas and harassed the young women.  Arjuna had faith in Gandiva that would protect the people from the attackers, Alas! He could not remember any of the usages of weapons, in a moment he realized that all his knowledge has lost, became helpless; eventually, he couldn’t help a single person from the clutches of Mlecchas. Finally, he had to run for his life, was chased by Yavanas and physically wounded.  Arjuna had to flee from the sight of Mlechasa, was stopped by Lord Varuna, and instructed him to give back the Gandiva that has lost all its divinity and prowess. Arjuna returned his powerful Gandiva, which raised his glory as an eminent archer, was always favorable with him had to return to Lord Varuna.  Arjuna was completely devastated at the grief of separation from his dearest companion Krishna, and the loss of his promising weapon Gandiva.

 It was almost six months,  Arjuna did not return to Hastinapura. Once Yudhishtira revealed his anxiousness about the safety of Arjuna, he explained his concerns to Bheema. Yudhishtira was witnessing too many bad omens, owl producing hoot and screeches, crows have no sleep in the night hours, repeated earthquake and tornado, the ocean water level is increasing causing the flash flood, all these were increased the restlessness in Yudhishtira.  He remembered the warning of Maharishi Narada about Krishna’s departure to his abode was nearing, the thought itself made his extremely unease, he instructed Bheema to go to Dwarak and check on Arjuna.  Suddenly there appeared Arjuna in ragged clothes, disheveled hairs, unshaven face, had lost all the brilliance on his face, Gandeeva was missing, and not adorned a crown.  Arjuna approached Yudhishtira with face hung down and tears overflowing, prostrated before him.